PITTSBURGH — One of the key players in the ongoing contract negotiations between Pittsburgh Public Schools and the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers is Superintendent Anthony Hamlet.
If the two sides don’t reach an agreement by Friday, Pittsburgh teachers will strike for the first time in 42 years.
Here are 5 things to know about the superintendent:
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Hamlet was hired as superintendent in July 2016, which means this is his first labor negotiation with the teachers union.
Before coming to Pittsburgh, Hamlet worked his way up with the Palm Beach County School District in Florida. He worked as a teacher, principal and district administrator in the district.
In an interview on Monday with Channel 11, Hamlet said the only issue that remains is who controls teacher assignments. PPS is fighting to give principals the final say. The PFT president strongly disagrees with Hamlet, saying several issues like health care still remain.
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The mayor has made it clear he’s offered to help the two sides reach a new contract. Peduto said Hamlet and PPS have not accepted the city’s offer.
Hamlet played professional football in the early 1990s for the Seattle Seahawks, Indianapolis Colts and with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League.